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Published: August 10th 2007
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Lucy and her bag of free hugs...
We were rather lucky that it was such a beautiful sunny day as well... Ok, so this isn't out of England travelling, but I thought it deserved an entry on my travelblog...
I've been living in West London now for about 8 months, and am certainly making the most of my time in this wonderful city, anything interesting that comes my way I am there. Which is why I made my way down to Covent Garden with a handmade bag that said 'Free Hugs'...
I saw this event on the internet, saying that a big group of people were meeting outside Covent Garden tube station to do some Free Hugging, so off I went to it, inviting two of my friends from University too. Arriving at the correct station, at the correct time and the correct place holding the correct signs...we were greeted by errrr no one! We waited for a little while until this girl called Susana came up to me, looked at my Free Hugs bag, and asked if we were here for the Free Hugging thing. She had come by herself as well, so she's pretty lucky she found us...
We decided not to wait any longer, and walked down to the main outside square of Covent Garden. All
The hugging girls...
Me and Susana, we give good hugs... of us were quite nervous about holding up our signs, but I just said to everyone we've come all this way, we should just do it...and so I held up my lovely little bag/sign in the air...
We decided to spread out from each other and stand in an area where there was a guy playing the guitar and singing, thought that the music might get people in the mood for hugging...
I held up my sign for about 5 minutes before I gave my first Free Hug. In total I reckon I gave out about 130 or so Free Hugs in the few hours I stood there for, and hopefully that translates to 130 boosts of happiness...
So here is my list of the most memorable Free Hug moments...
waaaaaaaaaooooooooyeeeeeaaaahhh
- Barbara, a skinny American woman who came running up to me, hugged me so hard and picked me up spinning me round and round whilst screaming. I was laughing, alot! I have no idea how she managed to do that to me, she was so tiny...
I want a hug!
- a cute little girl dressed in pink, must have been about 8 years old. She ran up
The hugging boys...
James (told me about the event, turned up about an hour after us), Sam and Aaron...don't you just want to hug them... to me and gave me the biggest hug that she was physically able to, then turned round and ran off back to her parents whilst waving back at me.
So 'free hugs' has an 's' at the end of it, that means I get more than one yes?
(we hug)
That's such a great thing you're doing. For all I know, that could be the last hug I ever have
- a really old man, must've been in his 80's. That moment really meant alot to me and I'll never forget it, moves me still just thinking about it.
Look she's giving out free hugs!
- daughter to father.
Don't, she'll pick your pockets...
- father to daughter.
What is hugs?
- Sam and I hug and he laughs...haha
Thankyou so much. I have just arrived in London today...thankyou!
- a very happy and excited tourist, pleased with my greeting for him to London 😊
Are you doing this to promote positive energy?
- young man.
Yeah, I guess I am in a way.
- me.
That's great! Good luck to you.
- young man.
Can my son please have a hug?
- a mother with her son who looked about 12.
Do you want a hug?
- young woman to her couple of month old baby! (I hug and hold the baby)
(in a cockney accent) So do I get a free hug?
- sweet old man wearing a flat cap.
Of course you do!
- me (we hug)
Right, I've clocked ya now. (looks at watch) Same time, same spot tomorrow right, I've clocked ya
What, did you lose a bet or something?
- some beefy man.
You stole my idea...I give out free kisses!
- a young Italian guy.
That's just made my day
- young guy.
Me and my posse have been watching you stand there for a long while, and I've been waiting this long to get my free hug.
- man who had been sitting at a restaurant table outside. He then takes a few steps back as a run up...
You ready for this?
...then runs up to me, gives me a massive hug, spinning me around heaps!
You know, I can dance as well...
and so we dance...
I was so pleased that I went along to do this, you really do feel so good afterwards, knowing that you have made at the very very least, one person's day that bit happier. I recommend doing this completely, after all who doesn't want a hug?
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Dad
non-member comment
hugs
cant wait until I see you this weekend for my hug